Waymo is under federal investigation after one of its self-driving vehicles struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica last week.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was opening a preliminary review to see if the self-driving vehicle acted with appropriate caution near the school during drop-off hours, Reuters reported.
Waymo said the child “suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly into our vehicle’s path.” Getty ImagesWaymo said the child “suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly into our vehicle’s path.”
The car “immediately detected the individual, braking hard and slowing from about 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact.”
A Waymo driverless taxi driving in Los Angeles, Jan. 13. REUTERSAfter the incident, the child got up and walked to the sidewalk, and Waymo called 911. He had only minor injuries.
The government plans to examine the vehicle’s behavior in school zones, including its speed and response after the collision.
In January alone, there have been several incidents involving Waymos across California, including a near-collision with a family in Los Angeles.
On the same day as the Santa Monica collision, the NTSA opened an investigation into Waymo after its robotaxis illegally passed stopped school buses in Austin, Texas, at least 19 times since the start of the school year.
In December, Waymo recalled more than 3,000 vehicles to fix software that had caused them to drive past stopped school buses, highlighting known safety issues that could put children at risk, Reuters reported.
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